A “dramatic move” by the Jaguars could be in store if Jacksonville loses to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Rapoport reported that the Jaguars could fire head coach Doug Pederson, general manager Trent Baalke, or both if Jacksonville loses to Detroit in Week 11, potentially during the team’s Week 12 bye.
Jacksonville would enter its week off with a 2-9 record on the season, riding its second four-game losing skid of the year.
“The Jaguars, mired in a miserable rut after losing four of their last five games, might be looking at another regime change for 2025, and sources say a dramatic move could come as soon as this week, pending the results of Sunday’s game against the Lions,” Rapoport wrote.
” … Inside the building, several sources say change, including the organization potentially moving on from Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke, would not be a surprise. Based on several conversations, while Jaguars staffers are still working and grinding, there is a pall permeating the situation. A doom.”
Such a decision by Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who deemed the 2024 Jaguars “the best team assembled” in franchise history during the preseason, would not necessarily be made on a whim. Jacksonville has gone 3-13 since Week 13 last year; it missed the playoffs in 2023 after opening the campaign 8-3.
Jacksonville vs. Detroit will kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
The Jaguars will be without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence — the centerpiece of Khan’s optimism for Jacksonville, who signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension with the club in June — against the Lions, marking his second inactive game in a row as he nurses a left shoulder injury.
Mac Jones, who completed 14-of-22 passes for 111 yards and committed three turnovers in his first start with Jacksonville, last week against Minnesota, will fill in for Lawrence against Detroit.